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File photo - Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis with the Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney PA

NI political leaders hold ‘robust’ talks, co-chaired by Coveney, on Troubles legacy plans

Stormont is to be recalled on Tuesday to debate plans for a statute of limitations on Troubles crimes.

NORTHERN IRELAND’S POLITICAL leaders have held “robust conversations” with Secretary of State Brandon Lewis over controversial UK Government plans to ban prosecutions over Troubles-related offences.

The parties outlined their opposition to the proposals in a virtual meeting with Lewis, which also included Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney.

The meeting came as it was confirmed the Northern Ireland Assembly will be recalled next week from its summer recess to discuss concerns over what politicians and victims have described as a “de facto amnesty” for Troubles crimes.

Lewis said on Wednesday that he intends to introduce legislation to create a proposed statute of limitations which would end all prosecutions for incidents up to April 1998 and would apply to military veterans as well as ex-paramilitaries.

The proposals, which British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said would allow Northern Ireland to “draw a line under the Troubles”, would also end all legacy inquests and civil actions related to the conflict.

Speaking today, Minister Coveney said there is “no predetermined outcome” to dealing with Northern Ireland’s legacy issues, adding that the British government’s position “is simply a position paper that is contributing to the process that is now underway”. 

“This is not a case of the British government outlining the position, and then going through some form of consultation process, and then moving ahead with that position anyway in the Autumn. If that’s what we’re at, well then we have real problems,” Coveney said. 

“I have to put some trust in this process, and I have done. Over time, I hope we will be able to provide reassurance to victims and their families, and to political leaders in Northern Ireland, that this is a genuine effort to try achieve consensus on perhaps the most sensitive issues in Northern Ireland, which is how we deal with the pain and trauma and the ongoing impact of the legacy of the past and how we try to move on,” Coveney said.

Following the meeting today, DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson said: “It was a fairly robust conversation. Each of us outlined our views on the way forward in relation to legacy.

“We recognise that these are very difficult and sensitive matters.

“This morning I have been meeting with some of the groups here representing innocent victims from across Northern Ireland. They are very concerned by the Government’s proposals for what they believe amounts to some form of amnesty.

“They believe passionately that the opportunity for victims and families to pursue justice should not be closed off and that view was replicated in the comments made by party leaders this morning.”

He added: “We want a process on legacy which includes an opportunity for those families and for those victims that want to take that route to pursue justice.

“It is not just about truth, it is not just about information recovery, it is about having the opportunity for individuals and families to pursue justice for their loved ones.”

Taoiseach Micheal Martin said there has to be a “consensus-based approach”.

He said: “What is at the foremost of our minds at all times must be the victims and their families.

“They feel betrayed and they feel let down, and we have to prioritise the families and victims of so many atrocities during that period of our history on this island, irrespective of one’s community.

“It’s very clear people want those that murdered their loved ones, be it paramilitaries, should be fully accountable to the justice system, fully acknowledging the challenges around that.”

Alliance Party leader Naomi Long said her party would not “provide cover for anything” that amounts to an “amnesty” over Troubles prosecutions.

Long said: “Alliance was clear with the governments that we will continue to engage in the legacy process in order to find a solution. But that solution needs to be based on the rule of law and due process.

“However, we will not provide cover for anything that amounts to an amnesty. I was clear in the meeting this process has to be centred on victims, who have been re-traumatised this week thanks to the actions of the UK Government.

“Any suggestion their right to access justice has been denied will hurt them further.”

Ulster Unionist leader Doug Beattie said the meeting “did not provide any solutions for innocent victims”.

Beattie said: “I made clear at the meeting that we would not be supporting a statute of limitations, which has always been our consistent position because it was always going to inevitably lead to an amnesty for terrorists.

“The UK Government must widen their proposals to incorporate a criminal justice element or they will risk inflicting more pain on innocent victims whose families have already sacrificed so much.

“Any proposals which snuff out any hope of justice need to be abandoned. The Irish Government needs to do more than what they are doing now. It`s not good enough that the Irish Government comes to the table with warm smiles, but little else. Where is their command paper and what are they going to do?”

Stormont is to be recalled on Tuesday after more than 30 MLAs signed a recall petition introduced by the SDLP.

MLAs will debate a motion calling for victims and survivors to have a “full, material and central role and input into the content and design of structures to address the legacy of the past”.

With reporting by Hayley Halpin

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    Mute whatistheseason
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    Jul 16th 2021, 9:57 AM

    I have volunteered to be part of the control group for this experiment

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    Mute John Drake - Zoomers is OUT NOW!
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    Jul 16th 2021, 10:06 AM

    @whatistheseason: Congratulations! You have earned a nomination for this year’s Darwin Awards.

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    Mute whatistheseason
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    Jul 16th 2021, 10:09 AM

    @John Drake – Zoomers is OUT NOW!: We’ll see, but it looks likely that Covid won’t get me considering I’ve been travelling around the world all the way through this pandemic. And this vaccine has not been tested like previous vaccines. Ever hear of what happened with thalmolide?

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    Mute whatistheseason
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    Jul 16th 2021, 10:11 AM

    *thalidomide

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    Mute Darren Norris
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    Jul 16th 2021, 11:47 AM

    @whatistheseason: it is a key WHO medicine. Was not able to know the effects on every type of person at the time but still a valid and important medicine. Are you trying to scare people on vaccines with Facebook jargon?

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    Mute SmallbutMighty
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    Jul 16th 2021, 12:33 PM

    @whatistheseason: except it has been tested to the same standards as every other vaccine.

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    Mute James Ward
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    Jul 16th 2021, 12:40 PM

    @whatistheseason: funny that the same company who created thalidomide, manufacture the biggest selling pain relief/stomach relief product in Ireland. maybe helps with back relief for tin hats as well!

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    Mute whatistheseason
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    Jul 16th 2021, 3:24 PM

    @SmallbutMighty: No because other vaccines have average of 10 years before they were cleared for the general population. There’s no substitute for time and experience no matter how sophisticated they think they are. Add to that the fact that the vaccine manufacturers got an 100% indemnity, any dissent on traditional/social media is immediately crucified, the main stream news has gone way over to the left, has a lot of propaganda and can’t be trusted, people are at their wits end with the lockdowns, most people are afraid of stepping out of line and the pharmaceutical industry is there to make a profit. You can’t just go along with everything you are told, you have to investigate. If there was an actual debate and more dissent on the issue I would be more inclined to take the vaccine. However the fact that everyone is singing off the same hymn sheet is the thing that worries me the most. Conforming to the majority opinion is nothing to be proud of, nothing. Wake up sheeple.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNmx2Kj628M

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    Mute whatistheseason
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    Jul 16th 2021, 3:29 PM

    @James Ward: FTW I mean are you trying to make my point for me?!

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    Mute Paul
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    Jul 16th 2021, 10:08 AM

    Nice weather for it

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    Mute Jonathan
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    Jul 16th 2021, 11:19 AM

    Get them into you

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    Mute Rob
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    Jul 16th 2021, 9:56 AM

    Will those aged 35 and older be able to register through the portal for AZ or JJ? Leo mentioned they would at a briefing a few weeks ago but no mention of it since.

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    Mute Ryan O'Rourke
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    Jul 16th 2021, 10:12 AM

    @Rob: if you register it goes to a page and asks you if youre happy to receive Astra. No mention of J&J, presume that’s only through pharmacies?

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    Mute Rob
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    Jul 16th 2021, 10:53 AM

    @Ryan O’Rourke: The AZ option is there for all age groups?

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    Mute Rob
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    Jul 16th 2021, 11:04 AM

    @Rob: Its ok, I just registered but no option to choose AZ. No worries will decline my appointment when offered one and sit tight!

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    Mute Diarmuid Hunt
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    Jul 16th 2021, 11:13 AM

    @Rob: I just booked it and you are automatically register for pfizer and moderna and can also select Astrazeneca if you are willing to get it.

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    Mute Rob
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    Jul 16th 2021, 11:16 AM

    @Diarmuid Hunt: I’m 41 so that must be for younger age groups?

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    Mute Diarmuid Hunt
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    Jul 16th 2021, 1:49 PM

    @Rob: I’d imagine so as the AZ side effects though extremely rare have a higher occurrence in younger age groups.

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